NGOs asked to establish links with district assemblies

Dalun (Northern Region), 28th June 99 -

The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, has called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to establish strong links with district assemblies for the proper harmonisation of resources for development.

They should also collaborate with decentralised departments to ensure people centred development envisaged in the Vision 2020 document.

Mr Asabigi was opening a four-day seminar for Danish sponsored NGOs at Dalun in the Tolon/Kumbungu district on Friday on the theme "Functions and potentials of networking''.

A total of 18 Ghana based NGOs and four from Denmark are attending the seminar aimed at fostering understanding between them to avoid duplication.

Mr Asabigi urged the participants to examine areas where they can work together to help people to become self-reliant adding that partners and donor agencies would only be interested in their programmes when they efficiently utilise resources for the benefit of the people.

The Deputy Regional Minister called the participants to enhance their competence, effectiveness, organisational and managerial skills with the support of the district assemblies.

Mr Ibrahim Tanko, programme coordinator of the Ghana Danish Community Project (GDCP), said NGOs, "should not be seen to be working in competition but in collaboration with national and local governments."

He cautioned NGOs against moving into areas without consulting the district assemblies and traditional authorities in their anxiety to sustain and maximise the impact of their project.